Device for removing the closure-boards of grain-car doors



H. R. WAIT.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE CLOSURE BOARDS 07F GRAIN CAR DOORS.

APPLlcATIoN FILED 1AN.9`. 1920.

L36, I Patented Apr. 26, IIDZI,

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

f C C? WLM H. R. WAIT.

DEVICE FOR REMOVING THE CLOSURE BARDS 0F GRAIN GAR DOORS.

APPLICATION FILED IAII.9. 1920.

v, 124m. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. R. WAIT.

DEVICE FOR'REMOVING THE CLOSURE BOARDS 0F GRAIN CAR DOORS.

' APPLICATION FILED 1AN.9. 1920.

1,376. 124. Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED sTA'l-"iazs PATENT orifice.

HARRY R. WAIT, OF BUFFALO, NRW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led January 9, 1920. Serial No. 850,482.

T 0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY R. WAIT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, haveinvented-a new and useful Improvement in Devices for Removing theClosure-Boards of Grain-Car Doors, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates tO devices for opening or breaking in the doorclosures or cooperage of grain cars. More particularly the inventionrelates to devices of this sort which are automatically operated, andwhich have a ram or member adapted to engage the boards and force theminwardly off of the door frame.

One object of the invention is to provide a device of this sort whichcan be arranged vertically in a grain receiving pit at the side of therailway track so that it will occupy the minimum amount of horizontal ortrack space, thus enabling, if desired, two

, ofthe devices to be arranged between two railway tracks and operatedto open two cars on the tracks at the same time.

Another object is to so construct the device that, if desired, it can bearranged in a grain-receiving pit in which one or more car unloadingapparatus is or are installed, and can be operated by the same kind ofpower taken from the same source.

Another object is to provide a device of this sort with a power-actuatedpiston which moves up and down, and is attached to a door-opening memberwhich is adapted to swing downwardly and outwardly from an uprightinoperative position to a lateral operative position in ,contact withthe car door.

Another object is to provide the device with novel means for adjustingthe operative position of the door opening member, to cause it toproperly engage the doors on different cars notwithstanding variationsin the width of the cars or the height of their floors or door sills.

Other objects are to simplify and improve devices of this sort in therespects hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1- is a longitudinal vertical sectional elevation of a cardoor-opening device embodying the invention, showing the parts in fulllines in its inoperative position, and showing in dotted lines anintermediate position.

Patented Apr. 2e, 192i.,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation .thereof,'showing by full and broken lines,successive positions of the door opening member in engagement with theboards of the door.

Fig. 3 is a sectional lan view thereof on line 3 3, Fig. 2. p

y In the drawings, a door opening device is shown as being located withits operating lsides of which two of the door opening devices arearranged to work in opposite directions, so that if desired they may besimultaneously actuated to operate On two cars, one on each of the saidunloading apparatus. Only one of the door opening devices is shown. Aportion of one car is shown at E and the grain door, as usual compriseshorizontal boards or planks e disposediat the inner side of and nailedor otherwise secured tothe door frame e so asfto close the door Openinge2. A platform F is provided which is suitably supported over thepartition D between the two tracks, and on which the operative can standto observeand control the various operations of the door 'A openingdevices and car-unloading apparatus. Any suitable arrangement orrelative disposition of these parts may be used, or the door-openingdevice or devices may be independently installed in a pit without thecar-unloading apparatus, as it is structurally and operativelyindependent thereof.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings is preferablyconstructed as follows:

A piston rod 10 and piston 10'* are arranged to reciprocate in anupright cylinder 11 which is preferably supported on the lower part ofthe partition D in the pit B. The pressure fluid for operating thepiston 10a may be of any suitable sort and from any suitable source, butis preferably of the same kind and from the same supply as used for thecar-unloading apparatus.

The upper end of the piston rod 10 is .provided with a crosshead 12 onwhich is pivotauymounted a\`door opening member A, which is adapted toassume a substank tiall upright inoperative position above thel fio `position, and which .as the when the piston .10 is iifits lowered Pitiston rises, 1s

adapted to swing outward y and downi iwardly toward the car to'engagethe lower -board e and push the same inwardly to detach it from the doorframe. The continued upward movement of the piston will cause the dooropening member to move laterally toward the car and on account of itsform it will successively engage andv detach a\.and the member A is thusheld upright as number of the door boards one after another untill asmany'are removed as is necessary for theproper discharge of the grain.

. The crosshead 1'2. preferably comprises a horizontal pivot .shaft orrod 13, spacing 'sleeves 14, and rollers or wheels 15 jour- 'naled onthe; outer ends of the shaft 13 are adapted to'engage the outer faces offired upright lguide rails or abutments "16, which take the side thrustofthe .crosshead 12 when thedoor opening vmember A engages the doorboards e, thusl preventing bending or other injury to the piston rod 10.

The door opening member preferably comprises two upwardly-extending andlaterally-bent or offset armsor bars 20, the

lower ends ofwhich are pivoted on the shaft 13. These arms are rigidlyconnected to each other by transverse bars or braces21, andthe outerends of the arms are provided with shoesor plates 22 so spaced as toengage the boards e near their oppositeends, or adjacent the ends of thedoor frame e.

lThe shoes have curved or cam-shaped outer door-engaging edges or faces23 which are so formed that when the door opening member vis operated,the lower portions of the edges 23 will first engage the lowest board eand force it inwardly and successive portions of -the edges 23 will thenengage in succession andforce off the-other boards. The lower portionsof the shoes 22 are rounded to form heels or projections 24, which arebthe various parts of the member A are such adapted to rest on the sillof the car to support the outer end of the door opening member.

The proportions and relative location of that when the piston rod 10moves upwardly the member A will ,tendA to fall or swing outwardly onits pivot 13 until the heels 24 rest on the door sill of the car. Thenas the upward motion of the piston continues, the shoes rock on theheels so as to cause the curved edges 23 to engage the boards e atsuccessively higher points, as will be apparent from Fig. 2.

Many-of the grain cars in use vary in dimensions. and the sills orfloors are lower in some cases than in others. It is therefore desirablethat provision be made to properly sup- Some are wider than others,-

Lec/6,124

port and guide the door opening member as it swings outwardly toward thecar so that it will properly engage thev lower board e,` I

The means preferably provided to accomplish this result are constructedas follows:

A transverse roller 25- is suitably'journaled on the framework of theplatform F or otherwise, adjacent the lower ends of the arms 20, saidarms resting against the roller 25 in the lower position of the memberA,

shown in Fig. 1. As the piston v10a is\raiscd to move the member A, therollers 15 and cross'head 12 travel upwardly in a straight path on theguides 16, while the member A swings outwardly and downwardly by gravityoverthe roller 25, the arms 20 being sup ported by the roller 25. As thecrosshead continues its upward movement the arms 20 will be carried outof engagement with the roller' 25 and into engagement with anothersimilar roller 27 locatedy above the roller 25, and which is adapted tosupport the door opening member A and guide the heel thereof into properengagement with the door sill of the car. The roller 27 is madeadjustable to provide for varying horizontal and vertical positions ofthe sills on different cars.

The means shown in the drawings .for adjusting the roller 27 compriseadjustable journal blocks 28 for the opposite ends of the shaft 26arranged to slide on guides 29 on the platform frame. The journal blocks28 are'moved up and down by adjusting screws 30 swiveled in the guides29 and engaging in threaded holes in the journal blocks. Hand wheels 31or the like ar'e provided for turning the scm1 .vs. Any other suitablemeans may be provided for permitting the required adjustment of theroller 27.

In the construction shown in the drawings, shields or delectors 35, 36are provided for the purpose of preventing the grain from accumulatingabout and clogging the mechanism. These shields are preferably securedto and extend downwardly away from the partitions D, and the lowershield 36 is provided with an aperture through which the piston rod 10extends. This shield surrounds the upper part of the cylinder 11.

I claimas my invention l. In a device for removing grain car doorboards, the combination with va door board removing shoe. of means forswinging said shoe into car door engaging position and rocking said shoeto force said boards from said door.

2. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of acylinder, a piston rod and a piston adapted to reciprocate in saidcylinder, a ram member pivotally connected at one end to said piston rodand having at its other end a camshaped edge, said ram me'mber, when/i'said piston rod moves in said cylinder, swinging on said pivotalconnection to approach and engage successive door boards and remove themfrom the car door opening.

3. `In a device for` removing grain caidoor boards, the combination of acylinder, a piston rod and a piston adapted to reciprocate in saidcylinder, a roller journaled on the end of said piston rod, a guide forsaid roller disposed in parallel relation to the line of travel of saidpiston rodi, a ram member one end of which is pivotally connected tosaid piston rod, a cam-shaped edge at the other end of said ram member,said ram member swinging on said pivotal connection to a position inwhich said cam edge will engage and remove the lowest door board as saidpiston moves outwardly in said cylinder and the continued outwardmovement of which causes said cam edge to engage and remove successivedoor boards.

4. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of aram member having a board-engaging shoe at one end thereof, a pivot atthe opposite end of said ram member, and actuatinir means connected tosaid pivot to move the pivotally connected end of said ram in a straightpath, said shoe moving at the same time in a curved path to a positionin which it engages and removes the lowest door board and successivelythe required number of the remaining door boards.

5. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of acylinder, a piston rod and a piston adapted to reciprocate in saidcylinder. a ram member pivotally connected at one end to said piston rodand'having at its other end a cam-shaped edge, said ram member beingadapted to assume an inoperative position substantially in alinementlwith said piston, a support adjacent said pivotal connection forsupporting said member in said inoperative position, said ram memberbeing adapted, when said piston is actuated, to swing on said pivot androck on said support into a laterally eX- tending operative positionrelative to said piston in which it will successively engage and removethe door boards.

6. In a device for removing grain car door boards the combination of acylinder,

a piston rod and a/piston adapted to reciprocate in said cylinder,\a rammember pivotally connected at one end to said piston rod and having atits other end a cam-shaped edge, said ram member being adapted to assumean inoperative position substantially in alinement with said piston, asupport adjacent said pivotal connection for supporting said member insaid inoperative position, said ram member being adapted, when saidpistonv is actuated, to ,swing on said pivot and rock on said supportinto a laterally entending operative position relative to said piston inwhich it will successively engage and remove 'the door boards, and meansfor supporting and guiding said ram member durin f said swingingmovement. A

7 n a device for removing grain car door boards the combination of acylinder, a piston rod and a iston adapted to reciprocate in said cyliner, a ram member pivotally connected at one end to said piston rod andhaving at its other end a cam-shaped edge, said ram member beingadaptedcto assume an inoperative position substantiallyin alinement withsaid piston, a support adjacentsaid pivotal connection for Supportingsaid member in said inoperative position, said ram member being adapted,when said piston is' actuated, to swing on said pivot and rock on saidsupport into a laterally extending operative position relative to saidpiston in which it will successively engage and remove the door boards,andadjustable means for supporting and guiding said ram member duringsaid swinging movement, whereby said member will properly engage thedoor boards on cars of varying widths or fioor heights.

8. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of aram member having a transversely disposed camshaped outer end edge, saidram member being arranged to swing from a substantially upright positionto a laterally extendin position in which said cam-shaped edge wi lsuccessively engage and remove the door boards, and actuating means forsaid rain member which cause the same to swing from said uprightposition to said laterally extending position.

9. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of anactuating device movable along a substantially upright path, and a rammember pivoted vto said actuating device to swing outwardly and removethe door boards by the swing-J ing movement of the ram member during thecontinued movement of said actuating device.

10. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination ofan actuating device movable along a substantially upright path, and aram member pivoted to said actuating device to swing outwardly when saidactuating device is moved in said upright path, the outer end of saidram member being formed to successively engage and remove the doorboards by the swinging movement of the ram member, and a support fornormally retaining said ram member in a substantially upright position,said ram member being adapted, when said actuiio \ ating device isoperated, to swing over said support into a laterally extending positionrelative to said actuating device and by the continued upward movementof said actuating devioe'cause the outer end of said ram member toengage and remove the door boards successively.

11. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination vofan actuating device movable along a substantially upright path, and aram` member plvoted to said actuating device to swing outwardly whensaid actuating device is moved in said upright path, the outer end ofsaid ram member having a cam-shaped shoe with a heel portion at thelower end thereof adapted to rest on the door sill of the car, the innerend of said ram member, when said actuating device is' operated, movingalong said upright path, and the outer end of said ram member rocking onsaid heel to cause said shoe to engage and remove the door boardssuccessively.

12. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination ofan actuating device movable along a substantially v upright path, and aram member pivoted` to said actuating. device to swing outwardly whensaid actuatlng device is moved in said upright path, the outer end ofsaid ram member having a cam-shaped shoe with a heel portion at thelower end thereof adapted to rest on the door sill of the car, the innerend of said ram member, Whensaid actuating device is operated, movingalongsaid upright path, and the outer end of said ram member rocking onsaid heel to cause said shoe to engage and removev the door boardssuccessively, and adjustable means for guiding the outer end of said rammember during said swinging movement, to permit said heel to properlyengage the sills of different cars in which the locations ofthe sillsdiffer.

13. 'In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination ofa substantially upright cylinder, and a piston and rod adaptedtoreciprocate therein, a roller journaled on the end of said piston, asubstantially upright guide member for said roller, a ram member pivotedon said piston rod and having a cam-shaped shoe with a heel on the lowerend thereof, said ram member when in its inoperative position beingsubstantially in alinement with said piston, and when actuated, swingingin a curved path until said heel engages the car sill and said shoecontacts with the door boards, thev continued upward movement of saidpiston causing a rocking movement of said shoe on said heel tosuccessively engage and remove the boards of the door.

14. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination witha door board removing shoe, ofmeans for swinging said shoe into engagingposition with a portion of said shoe engaging oneof said door boards androcking said shoe upon its board engaging portion and for moving saidshoe laterally whereby boards are forced inwardly and rem'oved from saiddoor. l.

15. In a device for removing grain car door boards, the combination of acylinder, a piston rod and a piston adapted to reciprocatein saidcylinder, an arm, a door board removing shoe on one end of said arm, apivotal connection between the other end of said arm and said pistonrod, whereby said arm is permitted to swing relatively to said pistonrod and outwardly and downwardly and to car door engaging position, andadjustable means for limiting downwardly swinging movement of said arm.

Witness my hand this 6th day of January, 1920.

HARRY R. WAIT. Witnesses:

C. W. PARKER, M. J. PITMAN.

